Eighth in a series on the families who helped build Clarkston and the descendants who still live here, carrying on their legacy.
BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
Jacob Petty helped create the United States of America as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army before settling in Clarkston.
Eight generations later, many of his descendants still call the Clarkston area home.
Ethelyn Hyde, 81, Petty’s great-great-great granddaughter, grew up in the area, taught English in Clarkston schools, and still lives in Independence Township.
“I like the view, and the people are great – down-to-earth people,” Hyde said. “Clarkston schools are some of the best. They’re dedicated people, with good administration through the years.”
She has a scrapbook of family photos, letters, newpaper reports, and memorabilia to keep the family history alive.
The book includes several news reports about the unveiling of a marker for Jacob Petty in Sashabaw Plains Cemetery by Daughters of the American Revolution in 1933, as well as many other historical milestones over the years.
It’s also filled with pictures and letters from Ethelyn’s uncle and Jacob’s descendant Glenn Petty, who served in World War I.
“Well, we have got a new home and got it settled up all ready,” Glenn wrote to his family in one letter about his military service. “Each tent has eight men in it, 30 tents in a row and one row for a company, and I guess there is room for a hundred companies so you can picture to yourself how many there is in a bunch. The ground is white sand without a spear of grass or a weed on it around the camp.”
Glenn, who was drafted on May 13, 1918, at the age of 25 as a private in Company G, 55th Infantry, wrote many letters about military life, including one dated April 20, 1919, to his brother Frank.
“Did you catch very many rats or were they scarce,” he asked. “We have lots of them over here but they are different kind, they eat holes in our coat pockets and play tag all around on our bed while we slept. Of course when they run around on your face you wake up – you naturally would.”
Ethelyn’s father George and his twin brother, Israel Smith, both served in the Army during World War I, but only Israel was sent to Europe.
A letter dated Feb. 17, 1918, from their mother, Elnora, to George described his departure.
“Israel was home Thursday came in the morning and stayed just that one day,” she wrote. “He was looking good but May says he told her he was going to leave us and go to France pirty soon now. It makes us sick to think of such a thing as him going away.”

A note written by Adeline, Glenn’s sister, reveals the relief the family felt at the end of the worldwide conflict.
“Glenn Ellis came riding down on his horse yelling, ‘Elmer (their father), the war is over! The war is over!’ because he knew my brother was in the service,” she wrote.
In another part of the scrapbook, an article dated Oct. 22, 1921, announces the wedding of Ethelyn’s parents, “Autumn foliage and flowers were used in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Petty Wednesday, Oct. 12, for the marriage service of their only daughter, Adeline, and George N. Smith, son of Israel L. Smith, Sr. Rev. H. Hoffman, of Waterford, officiated. Miss Petty was lovely in a gown of white net trimmed with white satin ribbon. Her bouquet was white and pink rose buds, a gift of the groom. Mrs. Grant E. Beardslee, sister of the groom, entertained at a miscellaneous shower, Oct. 8.”
Another picture is of Ethelyn in the 1940s, at work in her father George Smith’s soda shop, the Clarkston Dairy Barn on Main Street.
“I’m serving up milkshakes and malts,” she said. “I worked there in 1947. I didn’t want to work there – my dad persuaded me to do it.”
Rudy’s was next door, she remembered.
“We’d go to get a hamburger and he’d cook it up,” she said. “The Cheeseman ice cream parlor was where the travel agency is now. Caribou Inn was still there. It was a simpler age. People knew each other. There were only 50 kids in my (Clarkston) High School class. I got to know all of them.”
The book also includes Detroit News reports about Ethelyn’s district spelling bee championship in May 1939, when she was 11 years old; her War Ration Book Two identification from World War II when she was 15 years old; and Clarkston High School diploma in 1945 from the school now called Renaissance High School.
“I don’t take great stock in genealogy. It’s interesting but it’s not who I am. But it’s good for people know their roots, to know their heritage, what the family has done in the past,” she said.
The Clarkston News and Tom Stone, longtime resident and genealogist, are highlighting every month local families who have lived in the area for at least 100 years.